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HOWARD
ASTRONOMICAL
LEAGUE
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Piney Mountain, Pennsylvania
Lat: 40.01668°N
Long: 77.31713°W |
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This is a medium dark sky site just north of Gettysburg, PA. Total distance is 76 miles and the drive time from Columbia, MD
is about an hour and 40 minutes. It's a good trade-off between a dark sky and a driving distance short enough that you can go
home when you're done.
It's actually a trailhead parking lot for ATV and horseback trails; big, gravel surface, tree line up to about
20 degrees. One small catch is that hunters and ATV'ers use the place (it's on the edge of Michaux State Forest), but there are
only a few around by nightfall and are nearly all gone within hour after dark. The site's elevation is 1,400 feet. There are now
bathroom facilities.
When you enter the driveway shown in the photo below, there is a good observing field at the end of the driveway on the left. |
Piney Mountain Topo Map
Driving directions:
- Go North on Rt 97
- Go through Gettysburg
- Turns into Rt. 34 north
- Go about 8-10 miles to Bigglersville
- Continue through Bigglersville
- Go about 2-3 miles, turn LEFT on South Main Street to head towards Bendersville.
(This LEFT is easy to miss, watch for it carefully, if you pass it and continue on Rt.34 to
Idaville, you have gone too far.)
- Go about 2-3 miles to Bendersville,
- Continue on South Main Street through Bendersville, go about 1 mile, cross a small bridge.
After crossing the bridge, follow the road around a slight bend and take the next possible
RIGHT onto Pine Grove Furnace Rd.
- Follow Pine Grove Furnace Rd about a mile to a STOP sign at Coon Road.
- Cross Coon road, staying on Pine Grove Furnace Rd.
- Soon the yellow double line will disappear, the road will get bumpy, and
you will enter
Michaux State Forest Follow road for about 2 miles, Turn LEFT
at the entrance for the ATV
Trail, there is a big wood sign for it on the left.
- As you are taking the left, don't follow the gravel road that goes straight, instead bear a bit
to the RIGHT to enter the gravel parking lot. You are there.
- It's not hard to find, but you should do it in daylight the first time.
The Map Below May Be Helpful Starting at Step #7
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